Pat Darlington will file for Stillwater City Council Seat #3 on Monday, February 3, 2014. Pat, a resident of Stillwater for 38 years, describes herself as a parent, grandmother, business-owner, one-time developer, and committed citizen. The opportunity to serve on the city council feels like both a privilege, a challenge and a responsibility to Pat. She believes that to love Stillwater requires taking personal responsibility and being held accountable.

Our Stillwater issues, like most cities today, are numerous and the questions are complicated. We talk about, and dream of, economic development, quality-of-life, a city with character, healthy infrastructure, appropriate taxation, safety, sustainability…and any number of other trending buzzwords which translate to “the best Stillwater can be.” We can easily become distracted and overwhelmed with so many ideas and possibilities unless, Pat says, we remember that each of these “issues” is people—you, me, your neighbor, the business-owner down the street, the struggling, and the prosperous.

Pat describes her “agenda” as NOT issue-specific but instead as an approach to ALL issues with an eye and ear toward balance, transparency, and equanimity. Awareness and acceptance of our interdependence as citizens of Stillwater, the state of Oklahoma, and the global community provides context for decisions which go beyond our time and place. A commitment to building broad-based coalitions and aiming for collaboration among all entities are starting places as well as ending places for any discussion of needs or dreams for Stillwater. The need for good communication is paramount in achieving our dreams for Stillwater. And good communication is both speaking--with respect and integrity--and listening—not just to hear but to locate the starting places where we agree.

Pat has four children who all benefitted from Stillwater educations and have gone their own ways in the world. They bring her great pride and 8 (almost 9) beautiful, brilliant (of course!) grandchildren. Pat has been an active participant in Stillwater life serving on the Stillwater School Board and Library Board, Habitat for Humanity, Stillwater Interfaith Counseling Center, and being active in her church community. Pat is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Stillwater. She was involved in the development and construction of Oakcreek Community, a senior cohousing neighborhood, and firmly believes in the power of passion and possibility.

There is nothing like being a mother and grandmother to provide experience balancing the needs of many with finite resources of money, energy and time. -Pat